NBA’s True Impact Rookies

It is not too early to declare Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio the runaway leader for Rookie of the Year, and the reasons should be evident. It’s not just that Rubio, a 2009 draftee who came to Minnesota NBA-ready after six seasons in the Spanish ACB League, has put up some impressive numbers — 10.6 points and 8.1 assists per game. More importantly, he has helped make the Wolves a team you can’t automatically scratch from a list of potential Western Conference playoff teams.

That’s true rookie impact, but there is another group of first-year players flying under the Rookie of the Year radar whose impacts also have been big. By playoff time, the other rookies on our list probably won’t want to trade spots with Rubio, still more likely to be a playoff spectator than participant.

Here are four rookies making meaningful contributions for teams that are among the league’s best after roughly one-quarter of the season (entering Saturday), and one, Rubio, whose impact will be amazing if he and his teammates simply make the postseason.

Norris Cole, Heat (10-4)
Draft position: 28th overall
MPG: 21.6
PPG: 9.3
APG: 3.1
SPG: 1.1
Comment: By the time the Eastern Conference finals roll around, the Bulls may regret the three-way draft-night deal that landed Cole on the Heat’s roster. Already a fixture in Erik Spoelstra’s playing rotation, Cole has been a solid contributor to the Heat’s 10-4 start.

Enes Kanter, Jazz (9-5)
Draft position: 3rd overall
MPG: 14.0
PPG: 4.6
RPG: 5.3
BPG: 0.43
Comment: One reason the Jazz felt they could deal Mehmet Okur to the Nets a few days before the start of the season was the presence of Kanter on the roster. Playing behind Al Jefferson, he’s helped Utah get out to a 9-5 start that has been a big surprise.

Nikola Vucevic, 76ers (11-4)
Draft position: 16th overall
MPG: 14.1
PPG: 4.6
RPG: 4.6
BPG: 0.75
Comment: The 76ers are one of the surprise elite teams of the first quarter of the season, and Vucevic has been in coach Doug Collins’ playing rotation from the start. He’s had only one double-figure scoring game and one double-figure rebound game but has been steady and solid.
Ricky Rubio, Timberwolves (7-8)
Draft position: 5th overall (2009)
MPG: 31.8
PPG: 10.6
APG: 8.1
SPG: 2.3
Comment: He appears to have taken over as Minnesota’s starting point guard and has played the bulk of every fourth quarter because he has proven unflappable. Ranks fourth in league in steals (2.33), eighth in assists (8.1).